Courier

Media Credit: Chi Hong Wong The unnamed mural between the third and second floor of the southwest corner of the C Building. There is no record of the mural on campus other than the artist's name.

As students scurry up and down the stairs on the south side of C Building, they rarely take the time to acknowledge their surroundings.

But had they taken a glance up, right before turning toward the stairs in the break of the second and third floor, they would have seen a work of art from 1973 by former student Guillermo Martinez, whose appreciation was lost along with its meaning.

When the mural catches one's eye, it has a strong attraction. It almost demands attention. It depicts a lot of emotion, whether its of accomplishment or struggle, one cannot be fully certain. Its interpretation is not limited. The piece offers clues as to what it could mean, but ultimately the viewer makes his or her own conclusion.

Students, who take the time to examine the artwork, came up with their own ideas about what the artist was trying to convey.

"It seems like the man in the middle is a combination of different races and everyone branching off is a part of him, like we're not just one kind, we're a mix of many. It represents Mexican culture and diversity," said 20-year-old liberal arts major Kate Krag.

Many images in the mural symbolize and illustrate Mexican culture, exemplifying Chicano pride. When observing the work in detail, you can find somewhat hidden messages, like the phrase "Viva La Raza," which can be closely translated as "long live the people" (or race) in Spanish, illustrated on the bottom of the mural. This motto can make one believe that the historic event of the Chicano resistance is the concept of the painting.

The colors are vivid and loud, yet they complement each other well. It's a very detailed work, which once caught by the eye requires a good amount of time to fully observe and admire. The meticulous aspect of the art makes it a bit busy. There's so much going on that you're not sure what to look at first or how to connect each image. But it's so enticing you want to try anyway.

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